Since June 2022, the Global Education Dean's Forum have organised a series of online webinars in their Deans' Vision of Shared Education Futures dialogue series.
The last episode for 2025, on 10 December, focussed on exploring the possibilities of voice for education: A research and practice perspective.
The event was led by Professor Elmer Ring, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, who shared her work on eliciting, and including children’s and young people’s voices in education. She interrogated the provisions of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and identified the barriers and enablers to including all voices in education.
After presenting her talk she was joined by a discussion panel involving our School of Education colleagues, teaching associate Dr Imene Kassous and PhD student Hannah Burrows.
A recording of the event will be available soon.
Biographies
Dr Imene Kassous is a dedicated youth advocate and researcher specialising in autism research in the Global South and contributes to advancing inclusive education practices. Imene was awarded the prestigious International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Cultural Diversity Internship, through which she conducted pioneering research into the lived experiences of mothers of autistic females in Algeria. Her work has shed light on underrepresented narratives in autism research, particularly in regions where such perspectives are often overlooked. In addition to her work on autism, she is interested in exploring the vocational education landscape in North Africa. Her interests include examining the accessibility and societal impact of TVET systems, with a particular emphasis on their intersection with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Hannah Burrows is a part-time doctoral candidate investigating primary school-age children’s perspectives of Child Friendly Nottingham, Nottingham City Council's journey towards recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. She is particularly interested in children' s rights and participation through the lens of childhood studies and creative research methods. Her PhD study is undertaken through the Collaboratory Research Hub, working alongside a supervisory team drawn from colleagues at the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham City Council to deliver meaningful change in the local community of Nottingham through research. Hannah's academic journey is supported by extensive professional experience as a primary school teacher, she currently teaches two days per week alongside her academic study.
Previous event
At the previous event in this dean's dialogue series, Head of the School of Education, Professor Volker Wedekind was the speaker on the topic of education and the world of work: Exploring the complex interplay between education, economy and society in the 21st century. The recording of that event can be viewed on Youtube.
Posted on Friday 12th December 2025